The Era - Evans Hotels

The Era
THE LODGE AT TORREY PINES
VOLUME 1
REL AX // RESTORE // RENEW
2
3
24
AW T H O R N
C R E A T
I V E
CONTENTS
12
P UBL ISHER
7
Jessica Kaiser
EDITORIA L
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Ryan Brandt
MANAGING EDITOR
Michael Persson
RESEARCH & COPY EDITOR
Joni Lacroix
FACT CHECKER
Roni Reino
A RT & P RODUCTI ON
ART DIRECTOR
Breanna Clymer
ASSOCIATE DESIGNERS
Meredith Lindsey, Aimee Skidds
PHOTO EDITOR
30
Kristin Burgess
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Cora Paradiso
AD DESIGNER
Holly Hancock
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Jennifer Legacy
A DVERTISING
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Ben Morse
SALES DIRECTOR
Wes Hampton
SALES MANAGER
Michele Hazut
Features
[16] LI VES AQUATI C
They didn’t know it at the time,
but when five children arrived
at SeaWorld, their experiences
would leave a mark that
would last a lifetime.
BY SAR AH TUFF
[24] TW O BY THE SE A
33 Jewell Court
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603.610.0533
hawthorncreative.com
© Hawthorn Creative 2014
All rights reserved.
4
Get to know the elegant
La Jolla and the rugged
and wide-open Torrey Pines.
They’re side by side, but far
from alike.
BY ARCHANA R AM
Departments
[7] OURS T O Y O URS
Go deeper with your stay and enjoy all
that we have to offer.
[12] THE NE IG H B O RH O O D
Tour Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
[14] ON T H E AX IS
Plotting your activities through The Lodge
at Torrey Pines, Catamaran Resort Hotel
and Spa, and Bahia Resort Hotel.
[15] C RAF T E D
The Artisan Table.
[30] CH E CK O UT
A.R. Valentien: Where art
and dining sit together.
5
OURS to YOURS
EDITED BY MICHAEL PERSSON
L
A GOLF SAFARI
For those who evaluate their vacations on their scorecards, The Lodge at Torrey Pines Director of
Golf Services Rich Wallace takes us on a PGA-worthy tour of the region.
TORREY PINES NORTH
DEL MAR COUNTRY CLUB
Start here because the
North course is certainly
easier than the South
course. That said, it’s no
pushover; it’s just much
shorter. Like the South
course, play this one in
the morning to beat the
afternoon rush.
RESORT KEY:
L
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Next up, get off the coast
and to a valley tucked
into the hills 10 minutes
northwest of La Jolla – no
need for the freeway, so
you don’t have to worry
about traffic. The director
of golf at this immaculate
course gives a great
welcoming speech that
guests rave about.
B
Bahia Resort Hotel
MADERAS
Time this round to end
around dusk – sunset here
in the East County turns
everything a gorgeous
orange. As for the play, it’s
classic target golf – more
hazards and plays tighter
than Torrey Pines North.
My favorite hole is 18 –
par 5 with a huge elevation
drop. Just wind up and hit
that sucker.
TORREY PINES SOUTH
Save the hardest for
last. [Pictured here]
This beast is the longest course in the lower
48, “tipping out” over
7,600 yards. When the
“rough is up” (three
to four inches high),
it’s brutal. Stick to the
white tees, and remember, the greens on this
course break away from
the bunkers.
C Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
7
OURS to YOURS
OURS to YOURS
Bianchi
B
C
BIRDS IN
PARADISE
They can squawk,
they can talk,
some even go for
a walk. Who are
these fine feathered
ambassadors
inhabiting the bird
room and about the
resort? Here, we
find out.
MOJITO,
MEET THE
SOUTH PACIFIC
B
B
P L AY I T A GA IN , MA N
Sitting in Tangier Bar, close your eyes for a moment, and you could be
on set with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. But then again...
First came the mojito,
then the Bahia Mojito,
which is given a
splash of the resort’s
tropical aesthetic to
the raves of guests.
1 oz. of simple syrup in
a highball glass
C AS A BL A NC A
TAN GI E R BAR
The pianist has a baby grand to tickle.
Old, belt-driven ceiling
fans keep things cool.
Waitstaff dresses Southern California casual.
Drinks are both classic and contemporary.
You can request “As Time Goes By” to be played.
8
↔
↔
Sam only had an upright.
3–4 orange
segments and 4
mint leaves, muddled
At Rick’s Café Américain, the heat
came between Bogey and Bergman.
1 1/2 oz. of Bacardi O
Orange Rum
↔
↔
↔
Dinner jackets and bow ties were de rigueur.
Fill with ice
Champagne in coupe glasses was standard.
Bogey’s character would never have allowed it.
Top off with club soda
and garnish with an
orange wedge
BIANCHI A blue and
gold macaw, he flirts
with the ladies and
whistles when he
gets excited.
C
This Mississippi-style stern-wheeler cruises the bay that connects these two
resorts. But later at night is when this turn-of-the-century replica shows its 150
passengers a rollicking good time. Once the kids disembark, after-hours (at 9:30
p.m.) kicks in along with the live band. Then, the Belle sets off once more across
the bay, stopping in the middle for guests to take in SeaWorld’s seasonal fireworks
that explode above head and reflect in the water. In the distance, San Diego’s city
skyline adds another dimension to the romantic sights. But the hullabaloo is inside,
where Bahia Resort Hotel General Manager Jim Greene describes the charged
atmosphere as “…a social thing. You are so close to the band, you are practically
interacting with them.” Karaoke, anyone?
Mercer
L A CHIP OFF
THE OLD BLOCK
Scooter
MERCER Another blue
and gold macaw, she
loves to dance just as
much as she loves to
be massaged.
SCOOTER This lilaccrowned Amazon
parrot likes to nap and
makes more noises
than words.
The emblem for The Lodge at Torrey Pines is the
culmination of a famous Japanese artist, an American
painter, and an executive director who knows a good
thing when he sees it.
“It’s a windswept, tortured image, honoring a tree that exists in one of the
toughest habitats a tree could find itself in,” says Bill Evans of the Evans
family, which owns and operates The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Catamaran
Resort Hotel and Spa, and Bahia Resort Hotel, referring to the intriguing motif of The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Evans, a professed art lover, saw
a woodblock print created by the famous Japanese artist Katsushika
Hokusai – he of the famous cresting waves prints. “It had it all: a gnarled
tree, the sky, the water. It was the same as what we had here.” Included in
the final woodcut block were influences from the American painter Arthur
Wesley Dow, whose landscapes own a similar minimalism. “The final block
we created reads only ‘The Lodge Torrey Pines.’ I told my business partners
at the time, who were complaining about the fact that we left out ‘at,’
that it wasn’t important. What’s important was that it looked good.”
Chadwick
CHADWICK The escape
artist of the bunch, this
Eleanora cockatoo
can often be found
by the bar begging
for nuts.
CORNELL A green wing
macaw that’s a
bundle of energy and
knows a lot of tricks.
RESORT KEY:
L
ENTERTAI NM ENT ON THE B AY
Aboard the Bahia Belle, Mission Bay becomes an entertainment hub.
Cornell
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
B
Bahia Resort Hotel
C Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
9
OURS to YOURS
OURS to YOURS
C
THIS STOOL WAS
MADE FOR TALKIN’
Tropical art and
artifacts abound
throughout this tropical
resort, but one piece in
particular is deceiving.
L
BEER PAIRINGS, DISTILLED
The Craft Beer Dinner Series marries two of San Diego’s drivers in its
culinary culture: local beer and local food. Chef de Cuisine at The
Lodge at Torrey Pines Jeff Dibble and Owner of AleSmith Brewing
Company Peter Zien offer a few digestive opinions on this event.
HOW DOES A CRAFT BEER DINNER ALTER HOW YOU CONSTRUCT A MENU?
Dibble: I try to pick out distinct flavors, aromas, and mouthfeel. Once I
identify the flavor profiles, and if somehow nothing jumps out at me, I
have some books on matching flavors, as well as one on beer and pairings by Mr. Zien himself.
OUTSTANDING IN THE WILD
“Entering, your senses take over, and your mind quiets. Along the trails, coastal sage, rosemary, yucca, and the
rare Torrey pine are interspersed among wild snapdragon, monkey flower, and lemonade berry. Listen closely for
the buzz of hummingbirds emerging between the crashing waves on the beach down below. Nearing the end of
the Broken Hill Trail, the Pacific Ocean sparkles before you. And, if you’re lucky, perhaps dolphins playing in the
surf or the spout from a whale in the distance will greet your eye.”
10
B
C
CHAMPIONING LOCAL
Around all three properties, products from San
Diego businesses add that local touch.
RYAN BROS COFFEE Mention morning joe at The
Lodge at Torrey Pines, and it’s Ryan Bros,
roasted in the heart of the city.
liquid equivalent of food itself.
COOLA SUNCARE Made with certified organic
WHAT ARE GUESTS RECEIVING BY ATTENDING ONE OF THESE TAILORED DINNERS?
Cheri Rampacek, the Spa Operations Manager at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, spends her “off” days
as a nature tour guide, showing guests around Torrey Pines State Reserve. She sums up the draw of
this untamed haven.
L
IN THE FLAVOR WORLD, WHERE DO BEER AND FINE DINING INTERSECT?
Zien: Beer is an absolute natural for a food pairing. In many ways, it is the
L
It isn’t only in Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast
where the furniture
talks. The “speaking
stool” at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
has been afforded similar powers. Found by
Michael Rockefeller in a head hunter village
in Papua New Guinea in 1961, the stool is the
second largest of its kind in existence and
designates who has the right to speak at
fraternal headhunter meetings. In its native
environment, to have a turn, a villager must get
the speaker away from the stool by getting close
enough to bang on it three times, which would
give him the floor for as long as he could keep a
fellow villager from doing the same.
Dibble: “Foodies” are getting what they came for: a wonderfully prepared meal and an introduction into craft beer.
Zien: The beer may be great, the dish may be great, but when perfectly
paired, the experience is enhanced to a new and higher level.
A CRAFT BEER DINNER IN CALIFORNIA? SOME WOULD CALL THAT HERESY, NO?
Dibble: Before California wine, hops were often grown on the same land. I
would argue that the best of both of these two drinks are produced here
and deserve celebrating.
Zien: I love a glass of great wine on occasion, but we brewers are able
to bridge the flavors and aromas of fine cuisine in a way that is direct
and easy to comprehend and enjoy.
RESORT KEY:
L
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
B
Bahia Resort Hotel
ingredients and tropical fragrances, these
products are the “natural” choice for The Spa
at Torrey Pines and The Catamaran Spa.
MIMI & LU JEWELRY Borne from working the
wardrobe department of Cirque du Soleil;
handmade, playful jewelry sold at The
Catamaran Spa.
JADIENCE Herbal formulas designed for
detoxification and healing muscles,
formulated by a graduate of Pacific College of
Oriental Medicine in San Diego.
C Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
11
the neighborhood
the neighborhood
MISSION BEACH
With nearly two miles of beach, this Coney Island of the West
Coast has an action-packed atmosphere, from the familyfriendly carnival feel to lively beachside bars. BY RONI REINO
PACIFIC BEACH
This three-mile stretch of sand once only drew college students
and surfers; now, families and young professionals come seeking
seaside retreats and hot spots. BY RONI REINO
THE BAKED BE AR
KONO’S CAFE
7 10 BE ACH CLUB
THE FABULOUS RAG
Beloved for its custom cookie ice
cream sandwiches, this local phenom
puts its spin on a timeless dessert.
thebakedbear.com
Sports and cold brews just steps from
Crystal Pier; nightly music, like the
sultry acoustic stylings of Aussie Sam
Hosking. 710bc.com
G I A N T DIPPER
R O L LER C OAST ER
WAV E H OUSE
Rollerbladers and gawkers occupy
the same stretch of ocean boardwalk at Belmont Park; kids go gaga
for this 1925 wooden roller coaster.
belmontpark.com
Area surfers throw tricks on manmade waves; drinks served
alongside hot tubs; tiki bars and fire
pits add that quintessential SoCal vibe.
wavehouse.com
L U I GI’ S AT T H E BE A C H
DR A FT
Delicious Italian since 1985; scratch
made, hand-tossed, renowned pizzas highlight the molto bene menu.
luigisatthebeach.com
12
Where breakfast and lunch have
been an awesome fixture since 1991;
surfers and locals come to tuck in.
konoscafe.com
A women’s boutique for the professional with a sexy side; cocktail dresses
and gypsy style are de rigueur.
thefabulousrag.com
Located directly on the boardwalk;
beachside bar and grill serves up
handcrafted fare and beers galore.
draftsandiego.com
13
on the axis
crafted
ACTIVELY RELAXED
SOURCED TO
PERFECTION
These four quadrants add up to a single unrivaled experience found throughout
the hotels. BY MICHAEL PERSSON
What goes best with the local food at The Lodge at Torrey
Pines’s Artisan Table? A pinch of salt and pepper, a dressing scantily applied, and you. BY DAVID CHOATE
REL AX
C
T
L
B
THE
CATAMARAN SPA
C
LOUNGE LIZARD
Outdoor workout
machines and
soundproof
treatment rooms.
WEEKEND YOGA
Escape the sun
under lounge
cabanas or romantic
double-wides.
B
STANDUP
PADDLEBOARDING
C
SUP at Bahia
Resort Hotel.
LUAU
B
B
HANG GLIDING
Going up
at Torrey
Pines Gliderport.
AMONG THE CROWD
Sun salutations over the
Pacific on The Lodge at
Torrey Pines’s
Arroyo Terrace.
RESORT CABANAS
ALONE TIME
Live entertainment at Tangier
Bar at Bahia
Resort Hotel.
Sunset Luau’s at
the Catamaran
Resort Hotel
and Spa.
C
KID’S CORNER
HIKING TORREY PINES
STATE RESERVE
Eight miles through
coastal wilderness and
sandstone canyons.
BAHIA BELLE BOAT CRUISE
Live music and San Diego’s
skyline aglow on a replica
Mississippi riverboat.
Beach activities
balanced by trips to
Legoland, San Diego
Zoo, SeaWorld,
and more.
C
Surfing lessons at
Mission Beach.
L
L
14
L
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
B
Bahia Resort Hotel
FOUR
SEASONS,
ONE TABLE
WINTER
Corned veal cheek with
sweet and sour eggplant,
pickled mushrooms,
balsamic vinegar
SPRING
Butter-poached Maine
lobster with crushed
fingerling potatoes,
smoked paprika butter
SUMMER
Summer squash
tortellini with arugula,
picholine olive, brown
butter, marcona almonds
FALL
B
C
ACTIVE
RESORT KEY:
ake a seat at the Artisan
Table at The Lodge at Torrey
Pines, and you may bite into
an onion sweeter than a strawberry,
slice into a finessed pork cheek,
or swirl a crisply acid 2012 Gavilan
Chardonnay, each taste grounding
you in an experience that is distinctly
San Diego and that is an extension of
the hotel’s spirit that imparts a sense
of place.
C Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
Young broccoli with
blood orange and
green garlic
What ties these disparately delectable elements together is the lodge’s
affable Executive Chef Jeff Jackson,
who has a network of local farmers
who offer up their boutique wares for
the great oaken Artisan Table, where
10 to 16 diners serve themselves at
the family-style dinner. The ethos is
less farm-to-table and more farm as a
dredged from the Pacific off Baja,
table, a decision Jackson embraced
California. Each menu features mulyears ago.
tiple appetizers, main courses, and
When he arrived in La Jolla in 2001,
desserts, ranging from stuffed Baja
Jackson was intent on bringing the
clams with bitter fennel and preserved
kinds of dishes he was accustomed to
orange to a fluffy chiffon cake with
creating from the spoils of the famed
grilled nectarines, cherry compote,
Santa Monica Farmers Market to his
and honey whipped cream.
new home. The “Celebrate the Craft”
Indeed, it is the intersection of
festival annually held for local farmfarmers’ careful work and Jackson’s
ers, with Jackson whipping up huge
sharp and selective culinary eye that
meals with the crops brought
makes the Artisan Table worth
to him, has formed the basis
dining at. Despite the care
Executive Chef
for the Artisan Table.
and savoir faire that goes
Jeff Jackson (left)
“There’s really no excuse
into this edible array, any preworks alongside
Chef de Cuisine
not to use locally grown
tense of “fancy” or “haute”
Kelli Crosson.
foods, especially here,”
is absent, since this is about
Jackson says. “The [Artisan
raw, fresh, and synchronicity
Table] menu is more freelance, and
between two professionals. “I think
it’s a hands-off approach for me, letthat’s why there’s such a kindred spirit
ting the ingredients shine.”
between chefs and farmers. There’s
For the chef, that means a light
nothing romantic about being a chef
touch with spices and dressings, just
or being a farmer,” Jackson said. “We
enough to complement the fresh
grow food, pull it out of the ground,
crunch of spring radish and English
make it taste good.” //
peas, or fresh fennel and preserved
orange inside the shells of clams
15
LIVES
AQUATIC
FIVE SAN DIEGO SEAWORLD EMPLOYEES UNDERWENT
A SEA CHANGE WHEN THEIR VISITS TO THE PARK
CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. BY SARAH TUFF
16
17
“IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DREAM-COMETRUE EVENTS, SEEING THE WHALES UP
FRONT. HEARING THEIR EXHALATIONS
WAS JUST MIND-BLOWING.”
“SHE WAS FEMININE,
SHE WAS GRACEFUL,
AND AS I GREW UP AS A
BALLERINA, I THOUGHT,
‘YOU COULD DO THAT.’”
THE
G OO D
D O C TO R
ASSISTANT CUR ATOR
Overseeing animal trainers, the
population of dolphins, birds, and pilot
whales at the park’s Blue Horizons
Stadium area.
18
Being from Oklahoma City, I
hadn’t really been exposed to any
kind of marine mammals, so as a
12-year-old, the Shamu show was
mesmerizing. What really caught my
eye was that there were a lot of male
trainers, then there was this one girl
– she had blond hair and blue eyes;
TODD SCHM I T T // 4 3
SENIOR
VETERINARIAN
Overseeing the medical care and welfare
of the park’s roughly 27,000 animals,
along with a team of other veterinarians,
animal care specialists, scientists,
researchers, medical technicians, and
other animal experts across the globe.
(MAN WITH SEAL PUP) SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
WEN D Y R A MI R E Z // 4 2
she looked kind of like me. She was
feminine, she was graceful, and as I
grew up as a ballerina, I thought, ‘You
could do that – perform, do ballerinatype moves with these animals.’ If I
didn’t have 15 years of ballet, I don’t
know how I ever could have done
the hydro hops and spy hops with the
killer whales and dolphins. Athleticism
is a big part of our job. I walked away
from that encounter saying, ‘There is
no way an Oklahoma girl can do that
job, but I want to be here.’ The way it
inspired me and touched me, I can’t
really explain in words other than a
destiny that you see in front of you
and say, ‘This is what I’m supposed
to do.’
(WOMAN, DOLPHINS) SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
T HE
BA LL ERINA
In seventh grade, Ramirez traveled from
Oklahoma City with her family to SeaWorld,
where she was “blown away” by the relationship between trainers and animals during the
Shamu show, and how the whales surfaced in
dramatic elevated positions, called “spy hops.”
Five years later, she moved to San Diego, an
“absolutely frightening” move that paid off with
a full-time job at the place where it all began.
When he was 8 years old, Schmitt’s father – a
large-animal veterinarian in Montana – and
mother indulged their son’s childhood fascination with dolphins on a trip to SeaWorld San
Diego. Six months after that vacation, Schmitt’s
dad was killed in a small-plane crash, leaving
his son to pursue his own dream of working
with animals.
Growing up in Montana,
my parents thought I was a little bit
strange, because there was no ocean
around, but as a kid in the 1970s, I was
very much into dolphins. I would go to
the library and check out Dolphins (The
Undersea Discoveries of Jacques-Yves
Cousteau) before the days of computers. I loved to draw animals and
swim – it was a boyhood type of fantasy that I developed toward whales
and dolphins because of their unique
ability to echolocate, diving capa-
bilities, and ability to communicate
with each other. With my dad being
a vet, I decided I wanted to work with
dolphins. They could see I was fairly
committed, so they brought me to
Southern California. It was one of those
dream-come-true type of events,
seeing the dolphins and whales up
front, hearing their exhalations. It was
just mind-blowing. When you come
face-to-face with what you’ve been
studying or reading about, it’s one of
those life moments you cherish forever.
19
WATE R
G IRL
“THE CONNECTION WITH
WATER IS A BIG PART OF MY
LIFE. IT’S MY SERENITY; IT’S
MY RELEASE.”
L IN D Y D O N A H U E // 3 5
SUPERVISOR OF
ANIMAL TR AINING
Overseeing animal trainers and
the population of dolphins at the
park’s Dolphin Point attraction, which
allows guests to learn about and
interact with dolphins poolside, as well
as enter the water to play alongside
these amazing creatures.
“MOM GOT THE WHALE TO WAVE, STICK
OUT ITS TONGUE, AND SPLASH HER.
AFTERWARD, SHE SAID, ‘I WISH IT HAD
BEEN YOU!’ I WISHED IT HAD BEEN ME, TOO.”
Born and raised on her great-grandparents’
farm near San Diego, Donahue remembers
visiting SeaWorld at age 5, then plastering
her bedroom walls with posters of whales and
dolphins. “One drawing of a little girl swimming with dolphin was very inspirational to
me,” she says.
JODY W ESTBERG // 41
my kids in our pool. The connection
with water is a big part of my life. It’s
my serenity; it’s my release. In fact,
some of my happiest memories with
the animals are when we’re underwater, and guests can’t see. I feel a
tremendous closeness to the animals
when I’m in their environment.
(WHALE, WOMAN WITH SEAL PUPS) SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
20
THE
PAT I E N T
O NE
(WOMAN WITH DOLPHIN) SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
I loved animals to start with,
and seeing the closeness between a
human and the animal – realizing that
you don’t have to speak the same
language and you don’t have to
even be the same species to make
a connection – that touched me. I
asked questions: ‘How much do they
weigh? How can I work with them?
How big can they get to be? How
much do they eat? Do they have
babies?’ I was a gymnast and transferred into swimming in high school; I
know that helped me with getting the
job. I’ve been in and out of the water
countless times every day during my
15-year career here. My 3-year-old
and 1-year-old can already swim; I
leave here and go home to swim with
SUPERVISOR OF
ANIMAL C ARE
Overseeing animal rescuers, animal care
specialists, and the coordination of the
SeaWorld stranded animals rescue, care/
rehab, and return of nursed-to-healthy
animals back to the wild.
Growing up in South Dakota, what Westberg
knew of San Diego consisted only of two things
– Baywatch and SeaWorld San Diego – and
was 12 years old during her first visit to the park.
I remember my outfit because
I wanted to look like a SeaWorld
employee. They took volunteers out of
the audience, and my mom just happened to be selected that day. I was
excited for her and a little envious,
too. She got to give the signals to get
the whale to wave, stick out its tongue
at her, and splash her. Afterward, she
said, ‘I wish it had been you!’ I wished
it had been me, too, but I got to share
that experience with my mom. Back
home, I wrote a letter to SeaWorld,
and Jim Antrim, who was the curator
of mammals, wrote back. He did not
normally answer letters from kids, I
guess, but he saw the post stamp from
Sturgess, South Dakota, and he’s a big
motorcycle enthusiast, and they have
one of the largest motorcycle rallies
there. He told me to get a good education and that growing up around
large animals, like cattle and sheep,
would be beneficial to getting a job
at SeaWorld. I ended up being part
of the rescue team at SeaWorld, and
one of the first times my parents came
to visit me in San Diego, I was working
with the gray whale JJ. They got to
see me be the keeper, feeding that
large whale, and I took my mom in a
special area to watch. She told me
how proud she was of me and that
she felt so special. It really hit me how
full circle my childhood experience
had come.
21
“I WAS ALWAYS THE
KID WHO SAT IN THE
AUDIENCE, SAYING,
‘PICK ME! PICK ME!’
AND THEY NEVER DID,
SO I SAID, ‘WELL, I’LL
JUST GET A JOB HERE.’”
THE
S H OWM A N
BOB M CM AI NS // 4 9
ANIMAL TR AINING
SUPERVISOR
(MAN WITH SEAL) GARY SLADE
Overseeing animal trainers, the
population of California sea lions, and
small-clawed Asian otters at the park’s
Sea Lion and Otter Stadium area.
A Chula Vista native and part of a family who
had been baking cakes and breads for the
San Diego area since 1925, McMains first
experienced SeaWorld as a kindergartner. He
knew immediately that he didn’t want to be a
baker – he wanted to play with whales. Which
is just what McMains has done for 30 years
at SeaWorld, along with tending to a baker’s
dozen (or three) of other swimming species.
I was 5 years old, I watched the
man jumping with the killer whales,
and I was immediately hooked.
Afterward, in our backyard swimming
pool, I would take a broomstick and
slap it on the water, and my little sister
would jump like a whale, and I would
raise my hands, and say, ‘Ladies and
gentlemen, Shamu!’ On later visits,
I was always the kid who sat in the
audience, saying, ‘Pick me! Pick me!’
and they never picked me, so I said,
‘Well, I’ll just get a job here.’ I studied animal behavior in college and
started as a park operations host in
1983, then I got into the entertainment department. It goes with my
personality, always being a little bit
of the center of attention; I’m a Leo.
What inspired me to come here was
to be in the shows – I like being on
stage; I like performing. //
BEST WISHES…
AND FISHES
The Sea World 50th
Celebration Sea
of Surprises
SeaWorld turns 50 in 2014 and
is throwing itself a surprise party.
Stretching from the Pacific to the
Atlantic oceans across all three
SeaWorld parks (San Diego,
San Antonio, and Orlando), the
18-month celebration includes
unexpected moments happening
every day.
So far, the Surprise Squads –
teams of high-energy SeaWorld
employees – have given away:
• 4,500+ free trays of fish for
guests to feed to bat rays
and sea lions
• 450+ Dine with
Shamu experiences
• 2,000+ Quick
Queue privileges
• 450+ all-day
dining certificates
• 1,000+ stuffed animals
23
T WO BY
THE SE A
A SAN DIEGO
MAGAZINE CO N T RIB UT IN G WRIT E R G O E S O N
A N E IG H B O RH O O D WALK AB O UT T H RO UG H L A J O LL A
A N D T O RRE Y PIN E S , AN D H E R
TAK E AWAY S ARE E N DLE S S .
24
BY ARCHANA R AM
25
ake flight off a majestic bluff. Marvel at giant murals
downtown. Swim through caves, learn about tide pools,
let your jaw drop to a 360-degree view of the city, and
dine on world-class halibut ocean-side. Yes, if you spend
as much time in La Jolla and Torrey Pines as I have, you’ll
be a broken record of superlatives – best beaches, best seafood, best hike,
best brunch, the list goes on. And there’s even more to experience, from the
time-honored to the truly local. Here, my favorite ways to eat, drink, be merry –
and test your thrill threshold.
To escape the cement, head to
Torrey Pines State Reserve. Of the
eight miles of trails – all of easy to
moderate difficulty – the best combination is the North or South Fork with
the Broken Hill Trail to take you directly
onto Torrey Pines State Beach with
the ocean on one side and dramatic
bluffs on the other. torreypine.org
26
FAM DI EG O
San Diego may be the land of flip-flops and T-shirts, but in La Jolla, I can
let my fancy flag fly. Cocktail dresses, sophisticated dining, chic shopping
along Girard Avenue – they’re all par for the course in this city so aptly nicknamed “The Jewel.” Here, three ways to partake in La Jolla’s luxury.
Learn about the ocean ecosystem
and its living contents at the Birch
Aquarium, a part of the Scripps
Institute of Oceanography dedicated to science education through
creative exhibits and activities. One
captivating experience is Whales:
Voices in the Sea, where visitors can
hear different whale calls and record
their own. aquarium.ucsd.edu
Part women’s boutique, part wine bar, Blended Industries is a Shopbop-like haven
of on-trend staples from brands like BCBGMAXAZRIA and Parker handpicked
by owner Summer Albertsen. For the boutique’s wine bar nook, she also handpicked the vintner – boyfriend and Bachelorette alum Jesse Kovacs, who knows
a thing or two about tempting women. His Kovacs Bros. blends, not to mention
the bar chairs and cozy couches, are a welcome respite for non-shoppers.
blendedindustries.com
Deep, meditative breaths are best exhaled at La Jolla Cove, a small beach
of turquoise waters tucked between sandstone cliffs. For a good laugh, stop
to watch show-worthy seals and plop down for a picnic while the kids frolic at
the beach, the pool, and the park.
If beaches are La Jolla’s strongest suit, excellent seafood is a close second.
Set on the water, the upscale Marine Room is a San Diego institution, serving
elevated surf – think nectarine-soy-glazed cobia with green tea noodles and
eggplant miso foam – and turf from local meat purveyors, such as Mary’s Farm.
marineroom.com
(KIDS) BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS, UC SAN DIEGO; (KAYAKERS) ALAN C. HEISON / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Thirteen outdoor murals
add a vibrant flair to downtown La Jolla Village, an effort
spearheaded by Murals of La
Jolla. The group hosts free guided
two-hour tours, or you can DIY the
whole affair. A camera is essential,
if only for a snapshot against Roy
McMakin’s colorful, Tetris-like mural
Favorite Color on Eads Avenue.
muralsoflajolla.com
RETAIL, REL AX, AND REPAST
(MURAL) 2014 PHILLIP SCHOLZ RITTERMANN
TA K E A H I K E
Changing tides and a vulnerable
position between ocean and land
make for a kaleidoscope of colors
and creatures at the Shell Beach
Tide Pools. Sea anemones, starfish,
mollusks, and more abound at the
shoreline, and exploring the area
with little ones feels like your own
personal SeaWorld.
Dine on upscale Mexican street
comida at the recently revamped
Puesto La Jolla, which now includes
a more spacious setting, charming
patio, and wildly colorful graffiti art by
Thomas Schoos, who designed TAO
Restaurant in Las Vegas. (Kids will love
the ice cream with fried cookies.)
eatpuesto.com
BRE AKI NG A SW E AT
As evidenced by the fit, tan bodies that populate La Jolla and
Torrey Pines, utilizing Mother Nature as your own personal gym is
a way of life in San Diego – and for good reason.
La Jolla Cove is one of the city’s most scenic kayaking spots, where
paddlers can navigate through caves molded from seven fissures
along the ocean to observe the area’s rich biodiversity, including
leopard sharks, crabs, and sea lions. Get ready for a workout; on
certain days, the ocean can be a rough bedfellow.
At Torrey Pines Gliderport, the country’s top-ranked paragliding
school, tandem flights send you off a staggering bluff and coasting
over the Pacific before landing on Black’s Beach. Time of the day
makes a difference. Thanks to subpar wind conditions, my flight
lasted only a few minutes compared to the typical 10 to 15. And
flyer beware: The end of the journey is marked with a steep walk
back up to the Gliderport. sandiegofreeflight.com
GREGORY PECK’S L A JOLL A
Oscar-winning actor Gregory Peck has left an indelible
mark on his birthplace of La Jolla, where he cofounded
the Tony Award–winning La Jolla Playhouse in 1947. The
theater company has produced Broadway favorites, such as Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays and Jersey
Boys, and cultivated generations of talented
actors hoping to follow in Peck’s footsteps. Off
stage, those footsteps lead to one of Peck’s
favorite lounges, La Jolla’s La Valencia Hotel
Whaling Bar, which has since morphed
into Café La Rue. Peck may be gone, but
what remains are artist Wing Howard’s
murals – painted in the 1940s in
exchange for a drink or two.
lajollaplayhouse.org; lavalencia.com
27
THOSE I N THE KNOW
Two locals dish on all things beautiful, delicious, and secret in La Jolla
and Torrey Pines.
S TA R T YO U R D AY T H E L A JOLL A WAY
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
From the mismatched
furniture to the intimate
community feel, this
quirky, family-owned
café is a refreshing
alternative to megachain coffee shops.
pannikincoffeeandtea.com
The Cottage Where the outdoor patio is worth
waiting for and their French toast puts all others
to shame. Aim for a weekday or be ready
to wait up to two hours on weekends. Ever
the most courteous hosts, they keep fresh
coffee and pastries out for the patient
masses. cottagelajolla.com
28
BEACHY KEEN
WHY LA JOLLA?
WHAT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE
YOU ABOUT THE RESERVE?
FOR A BITE?
Our team loves Roppongi and
Brink & Bell, which serves great
sandwiches, scones, and coffee.
Girard Gourmet always has lines
running out the door.
Surfing is San Diego’s marquee
sport, and La Jolla Shores is the
area’s best bet, whether you’re
surfing or spectating. For a calmer,
more secluded vibe, walk north to
Scripps Beach. Here, the behemoth Scripps Pier juts out into
the ocean, keeping most water
thrillists away and their buzzing
joyrides out of earshot.
SHOP?
Bowers Jewelers is like a miniGump’s from San Francisco, and
Warwick’s is the oldest familyowned and -operated bookstore
in the United States.
UNDER THE RADAR?
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.
It’s a nonprofit membership library
with art exhibits, classes, concerts,
and plenty of music resources to get
lost in. (Admission to the library and
gallery exhibits is free, and materials may be used in the library but
checked out by members only.)
To see some of the best surfing
in the city, head north to Black’s
Beach. Though it’s a long descent
to the actual shore from the
parking lot on the bluff, you’ll be
rewarded with horizon-wide views
of the Pacific. FYI: Black’s is equally
well known for its clothing-optional
policy, a naturalist’s paradise to
be sure.
I walk without ever seeing evidence
of man-made structures. There’s
serenity in a place that’s pure
nature – a wild place in the middle
of an urban area.
SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT?
The best is in the spring if we’ve gotten rain for the plants or December
through February for the gray whale
migration. The cliffs are a great
place to see whale spouts as they
head south to Baja.
FAVORITE VISTA IN
THE RESERVE?
Walk down the historic paved road
to the North or South Broken Hill
Trail, and follow the signs. There’s a
peninsula-like point you can walk
out on to see great views of the
reserve and golf course.
WHERE TO POST-HIKE?
There’s a great lunch spot [at the
Torrey Pines Gliderport]. And, of
course, the best carne asada burrito is at Roberto’s on Carmel Valley
Road with a nice view of the lagoon
and Torrey Pines.
VISTA VS. VISTA
La Jolla’s best-kept secret,
Windansea Beach is smaller and
less crowded than other area
beaches. Blue waters, soft sand,
ample parking, and easy beach
access are all pros, but the romantic sunsets are its biggest claim
to fame.
La Jolla’s Mount Soledad Natural Park boasts a 360-degree view of San Diego,
and on a clear day, you’ll see as far south as Mexico and as far north as the
San Bernardino Mountains. Surrounded by trails, chaparral, and photo ops
galore, the park is home to a controversial Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial
cross at its peak, which has inspired a long-standing debate over separation
of church and state.
(SIGN) BIRD ROCK COFFEE
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Named one of Zagat’s hottest coffee shops of 2014, this micro-roaster, located in La Jolla’s
Bird Rock community, has plenty of accolades behind its
farm-to-cup brews. Once you’ve ordered, there’s little
reason to leave the friendly front patio, but if you insist,
head a few blocks west for stunning ocean views –
and even more stunning real estate. birdrockcoffee.com
Ken King, Torrey Pines State
Reserve docent (torreypine.org)
An elderly lady I once met in line at
the bank said it best: “Where else
can you stand in one spot and see
a historic church surrounded by hills
with beautiful homes all cascading
down to the ocean?” I feel so lucky,
that’s for sure.
Do you want to work out? Prefer
peace and quiet? A romantic
hideaway? In La Jolla, beaches
are tailor-made.
Goldfish Point Café
Whenever I want to
impress visitors, I
take them to this
dreamy perch
atop La Jolla Cove. With views reminiscent of the Mediterranean,
they’ll think you swapped San Diego for Santorini. Sandwiches
come aptly served with Goldfish crackers. goldfishpointcafe.com
Jerry Parent, GM and vice president of floral
boutique Adelaide’s (adelaides.com)
The Guy Fleming Trail offers one of the most comprehensive views at Torrey
Pines State Reserve, including sparkling ocean views, well-aged bluffs, and
native plants for the botany-lover.
FI R S T CL AS S
All SPF’d out? La Jolla has
ways to flex your creativity and
pick up a skill or two even while
on vacation.
At the luxurious perfume lab Tijon,
enthusiasts with “a nose” learn the
art of fragrance building with classes
that range from quick guiding sessions
to more in-depth, hands-on experiences to create your own custom
blend made with the lab’s selection
of more than 300 oils. Private classes
are also available. tijon.com
Take advantage of California’s yearround bounty with a farm-to-table
cooking class by La Jolla Cooks 4 U,
a culinary school that takes students
through the spacious La Jolla Open
Aire Market, held on Sundays near a
local elementary school. With the veritable fruits of your labor, you’ll craft
a three- to five-course meal in chef
Jodi Abel’s kitchen before enjoying
it porch-side at her home in Mount
Soledad. A minimum of two students
is required, but Abel can accommodate up to 16 for a fully hands-on
class. lajollacooks4u.com
29
checkout
WHERE
PLACE
MEETS
PAINT
T
he A.R. Valentien restaurant at
The Lodge at Torrey Pines takes
its name from one of San Diego’s most
prominent painters. His works represent
more than the area’s floral beauty;
they offer an authenticity that defines
what Bill Evans wants his guests to experience. Evans has acquired 25 pieces
from the Valentien collection for the
restaurant and lounge but sees a bigger picture than just their showcase
presence. “I’m a third-generation San
Diegan,” says Evans. “For me, it’s about
30
place – these works speak to that. They
are genuine, the way this hotel was
designed. The craftsman style of architecture gives you a post and beam,
and that’s all there is. No reinforcing; no
hidden supports. It’s right there in front
of you. The same goes for the local
food and California-only wines we
serve. Valentien’s paintings fit in with
this desire to show an authentic sense
of place.” –MICHAEL PERSSON
32